The Dragon's Wrath: Ashes of the Fallen

by Brent Roth

  The four goblins behind him were each hit with one of the four bolts and started to convulse as well while taking a quarter of the damage compared to the initial target. As all five goblins stood temporarily paralyzed I high-tailed it out of the room without a moment to lose, hastily retreating to the safety zone behind my little dwarf tank. It was only a few seconds of running, with a stop on a dime to turn around to prepare for the oncoming wave.

  Starting another full chanted verse for a [Lightning Bolt], I needed to time it with the goblins currently rushing through that narrow passageway that connected the rooms. Since [Lightning Bolt] was a straight-line skill shot, I only needed to aim properly and didn't require a target in line of sight to cast beforehand. Five seconds was more than adequate for those goblins to catch up, anyways.

  As the first [Outcast Minor Goblin] turned the corner, I had just finished my cast and let it fly. The lightning bolt flashed out of my open palm and connected straight with the goblin as it fell to the floor, twitching slightly with its face in the dirt.

  It died before it even hit the ground.

  That, was the power of lightning magic.

  High cost yet high reward, perfect for small skirmishes and one on one battles.

  Of course I had already dropped twenty-two percent of my mana in two casts, but that was the last thing on my mind. Starting up another [Lightning Bolt] with the intent to capitalize on the chaining bonus which ramped up damage by ten percent per, up to fifty percent in total, I looked on with eager eyes.

  No longer did I have to be the one getting stabbed and sliced at, receiving excessive pain in order to tank a bunch of mobs.

  This was something I could get used to.

  Yeah, this may just be my calling.

  Not more than three seconds had passed before the remaining four goblins appeared in front of us, with the dwarf using his [Call to Challenge], an Area of Effect taunt to pick up the loose mobs. The goblins couldn't resist the direct challenge and blindly swarmed the poor man, energetic and enraged from the taunt.

  As the goblins wildly attacked the dwarf, he was steadfast with his defense, keeping his shield high and in front, easily deflecting the oncoming blows of the lower level goblins. The tank had no issue controlling the four of them and made me rethink my stance on tanking without a shield.

  It all looked too easy for him.

  I certainly took the harder path.

  Looking over to my left was the Frost mage, who had nearly completed his full chanted verse [Frost Bolt], while to my right the Holy priest was starting a chanted [Holy Light] to heal the dwarf. The three of us stood in a line and it was kind of a neat sight. Three people chanting away with glowing hands.

  It was something you wouldn't see in real life.

  Witnessing it in a party setting made for an interesting experience, too.

  There was also an archer somewhere about, but no one cared about him.

  He shot his bow, like they all do.

  Thwack, thwack.

  And as I finished my thought, the first [Frost Bolt] left the mage's hands as a cold light-blue ball of ice shot out at an incredible speed, leaving a trail of crystalizing ice fluttering to the ground in its wake. Following the bolt as it impacted into the nearest minor goblin, an explosion of white mist enveloped the target, shrouding it entirely in a thin layer of frost.

  It was a spectacular sight to behold, and it was the first time I had seen it in person. But, it wasn't a heavy hitter and the minor goblin although slowed, was still quite alive and well.

  Well, not for long.

  Completing my second [Lightning Bolt], the frosty minor goblin nearly instantly slumped to the floor as electricity discharged from its body and into the ground below. A second later, and the dwarf was engulfed in that warming golden light that restored him to full health with ease.

  Ten seconds had passed since I pulled, and the third minor goblin fell to the archer's volleys leaving only the two [Outcast Goblins] still standing. Three [Frost Bolts] and two [Lightning Bolts] later, and we were down to one.

  Repeating the process, the fight was over in less than forty seconds.

  These fights took well over a minute with the [Liberated Souls] group that was composed of a rogue and two archers. Having two offensive casters certainly warranted some respect, for this type of pacing was definitely easier for everyone involved.

  The only issue… was our mana consumption.

  Well, mainly my mana consumption.

  A [Lightning Bolt] used up nearly 7% of my mana while a [Chain Lightning] used up almost 15%. The math on the spell cost was partially percentage based plus a small number, so even with a larger mana pool I wouldn't be able to cast indefinitely. The Frost mage on the other hand was using something like 3% of his mana per [Frost Bolt].

  Needless to say, after that fight he was sitting at 76% remaining mana while I was down to 43%. Pacing was important since a full rest could take up to five minutes with the lousy provisions we had.

  Maybe in the future I'll make sure to carry around some higher quality food. I couldn't be the one slowing down the group after all. With only my mana pool depleted and everyone else sitting around waiting for me… that didn't bode well for future invites.

  As I sat on the cold mossy ground floor of the dungeon, the dwarf walked over with a smile on his face. With actual emotion compared to before, he spoke up. "Hey lightning mage, ye do good work. Those spells of yers stunned 'em every time. Made my job a hell'uva lot easier."

  And with that he gave me a pat on the back and nodded.

  He was ready to start the next group, whenever I was.

  The second fight proceeded just like the first, and by the third trash group I had ended up switching to my bow due to my mana shortages. The priest had actually shown some concern when I went to pull that third group with only 15% mana remaining, which was something I valued in a party member.

  He was watching my mana bar during the fight.

  That was a sign of a good player.

  Especially when one considers that a healer should be attentive to his or her party's needs. It's imperative that they know the condition of the party before, during, and after a fight. As a former healer, I could really appreciate when others showcased good habits.

  Plainly put, I liked this group.

  As we sat down to eat snacks and recover, I decided to peruse the damage meter. Pulling up the damage chart to see all of the details, it seemed I was leading in damage done by quite a margin. Leading the pack at 52% of the total damage done was yours truly, with the Frost Mage at 25%, the Archer at 19%, and the Tank at 4%. I also had the highest damage per second, which was sort of implied by leading in total damage done, and had the highest Area of Effect and single target damage as well.

  Sorting out the categories, there was even a tab that showcased hit-zones for player accuracy. The archer and mage both aimed center-mass, with the majority of their attacks landing in the chest. The tank mostly deflected and parried blows but would occasionally land counter blows below the waist of the goblins. On the other hand, I was a bit higher up from center-mass, with a lot of my arrows hitting the neck or head.

  I actually wasn't losing to the other archer in terms of arrow damage… it was a little saddening. Needless to say, we were both accurate minus a few wayward arrows between us. The headshots seemed to have brought me up to par, seeing as he had a better bow and superior arrows. Accuracy and well-placed shots were more important than the gear itself, after all.

  Once we finished our rest we repeated the pattern, three groups and a five minute break, then two groups and a shorter three minute break. And then, the mini-boss of the first floor that gave me fits the previous time. That [Goblin Guard] with his [Old Aspis] and [Old Dory] that nearly proved too difficult the last time, was now a [Goblin Guard] with an [Old Dory] and some inferior quality shield.

  One of the more interesting aspects of The Dragon's Wrath was that you could visibly tell what loot or items a creat
ure had. The shield this guard was using was of a clearly poorer quality than the [Old Aspis] I picked up.

  I guess I got kind of lucky after all.

  Or maybe it was unlucky that the boss was so well-equipped the first time around, I couldn't really decide. Either way, it was one or the other.

  Looking at the dwarf's gear, his shield appeared to be one and the same. The same wooden hoplon design but without a leather cover on the outside compared to mine, and with small cracks running through the wood. It honestly looked as if it would break at any moment, and that was a large concern with the items in-game. Most of the early items were only used a few times before being replaced.

  My wood-chopping axe had been replaced four times already.

  Knowing that our tank had such a poor quality shield that could break at any point during a fight, I felt a little guilty. If he knew I had a better shield in storage at the village, he would probably rage, or at the very least, be jealous.

  It was likely in my best interest to keep quiet on that front.

  Without any real change to our previous strategy, the mini-boss fight was started with a [Chain Lightning] from me, along with a full chanted verse [Frost Bolt] from the mage directed at one of the two [Outcast Goblins]. Making quick work of the minor goblins and the regular goblins, all that was left was the [Goblin Guard].

  The dwarf's shield actually shattered mid-fight, but it wasn't really an issue.

  By all accounts, the mini-boss fight went smoothly.

  Another [Old Dory], a [Cracked Aspis] to replace the dwarf's now defunct shield, and a [Worn Leather Vest] were the major spoils. Nothing too special really, but it was only the first boss. The fifth boss was the big guy, and I was sure he would drop something nice.

  Now, it was time to finally start the second floor.

  Something new, exciting, and hopefully fresh… well, the air was likely to be stale still, but one could dream!

  Chapter 43: The Second Floor

  (Wednesday, May 26th Game Day / Thursday, February 18th Real Day)

  Heading down the narrow dark gray and black rock tunnel that was loosely supported by a random assortment of old and rotting lumber left a lot to be desired. At least, we figured it wouldn't collapse.

  If it did, well, that would only add to the realism I suppose.

  The ash that permeated the air had also suddenly become thicker. We were already well acquainted with the smoke that obscured our vision and made it difficult to breathe, but I never imagined it would get progressively worse.

  What used to be a slight burning sensation in my eyes and nostrils was now a steady burn. My mind wandered at the thought of what the third, fourth, and fifth floors would be like. If the situation continued to deteriorate with each descent, there may come a point where a mask would become a necessity. The thought of choking on smoke for an hour wasn't exactly appealing, even if there weren't any negative health implications.

  Eh, but that was neither here nor there.

  The situation in front of us was at least bearable.

  The lighting that was barely serviceable before at least did not disappoint, and remained a constant. To think that we would all be glad to see a few torches spread randomly throughout the cave interior. Well, what little light the torches provided was at least reassuring, even if the situation was excessively dreary.

  I suppose a bright and cheerful dungeon would be a misnomer of sorts, anyways.

  Walking forth, the priest actually slipped on some moss and fell to his ass, earning him a kick and a laugh from the dwarf. No words were said though. The situation was oddly serious, even if there were only trash groups ahead.

  Exiting the tunnel pass and entering the large opening with its domed ceiling that curiously showcased our dancing shadows as the flames moved to and fro, we came to a halt as we stared on. Before us squat a group of goblins, not unlike the previous goblins we had seen. But in the fashion of increasing difficulty, the group of goblins had made a substitution with their members.

  The prior groups had been made up of two [Outcast Goblins] and three [Outcast Minor Goblins], and now that had been reversed. There were three [Outcast Goblins] now along with two [Minor Goblins]. Suffice to say, the difficulty ramped up rather quickly from only a moment before.

  Also in consideration was the adjustment in level.

  These goblins ranged from level 38-40 opposed to the level 35-37s on the first floor, while the minor goblins were now level 28-30 over the previous level 25-27. Yeah, they were now slightly more experienced, more skillful, did a bit more damage, could take a bit more damage, and probably moved slightly faster as well.

  Hell, I was still only level 31.

  For a beginner dungeon, they really upped the difficulty from the first floor.

  At least, that's what I thought until we actually pulled.

  Throwing out a [Chain Lightning] and following with our duo chain combo of alternating [Lightning Bolts] and [Frost Bolts], we made quick work of the goblins to the point where it was almost silly. In theory we were expecting some resistance, or at least I was, but in practice it only took another ten seconds per group.

  The second floor wasn't that fresh after all.

  Oh well.

  It didn't take more than twenty-five minutes for us to reach the end of the second floor and to come face to face with the mini-boss and his entourage. Instead of the two [Goblins] and two [Minor Goblins] standing by the [Goblin Guard's] side, there were four [Outcast Goblins]. Going by the fact that the prior trash had upgraded in a similar fashion, it seemed rather inconsequential to me but the group wasn't as positive or anywhere near as confident as they were a minute ago.

  "So this boss is actually kinda difficult," said the dwarf while stretching his arms out. "Basically, I can't tank all five at the same time, so it'll take some creative mixing."

  "Huh?" I said immediately. I was at a loss as to what creative mixing was supposed to mean, and didn't quite follow. My best guess was that he meant we needed to change strategy. If that was the case, it didn't seem like a big deal.

  I really couldn't understand the sudden loss of confidence they shared.

  The dwarf looked over at me and sighed slightly. "Been 'ere twice, killed the boss once," said the dwarf. "The way we got it to work last time, was the archer pulled goblins off me and they killed them as quickly as they could. Peel fast enough, and we're good. Too slow, and I die, we lose."

  "Eh I think we can do better than that," I stated clearly and without hesitation. "I figure us two mages can get a good jump on the group and then we'll fall back and pull the goblins to the room we were just in. I'll immobilize one and pick another off you to off-tank when I can. As long as we rotate quickly enough, I can hold my own without heals against one or two without issue."

  The dwarf just stared at me silently as he mulled it over in his head. I didn't have much reason to brag or to overstate my ability, so I felt my reply was perfectly within reason. Though to be fair, I did have a few relatively strong spells.

  They just had to put a little faith in me, was all.

  "Ye going to use that lightning tether thing ye used on the last guard?" he asked, ending his momentary silence. "It seemed to stun it fer a few seconds last time."

  A smile broke out on my face before I realized it.

  This little dwarf picked up on everything.

  He was right after all, the way my [Arc Lightning] worked was as a single-target channel that applied a constant one-second stun every second. Unless the target had a high resistance, they would simply die in place… or be immobilized until I ran out of mana, the latter of which being more likely in most situations.

  "Yeah, I can't use it for long but I can interrupt a guard for a short while," I answered. I briefly tried it on the last mini-boss and found that the stun didn't apply more than three times; it seems bosses were given resistances in-case a player tried to do that. You couldn't really fault the developers for that.

  It was a necessary
handicap for the sake of game balance.

  "Right, do that then," he said with a bit of enthusiasm. "This fight is already hard enough but if ye can get them low and take one off of me every few seconds… I think we can manage."

  Having figured out our plan of attack, we fell back to the far edge of the previous room and settled into our positions for the upcoming fight. With everything ready to go, I had the frost mage follow me back down the narrow passageway that led to the mini-boss of the second floor. Turning the corner and gauging the distance between us, the five goblins continued to munch on cooked rodent as they appeared oblivious to our presence.

  Nodding at the mage, I began the process.

  As I started to harness the power of electricity between my hands, I whispered my chant in order to increase the power of the spell. "Through power, darkness turns to light, render all to ash," I said softly, holding at the end as I waited for the mage to finish his chant. The mage to my left had started to whisper his own three verse version as he gathered a small amount of cold light-blue frost and formed it into a compact ball. With white gas floating about as if it were dry ice, the subliming effect of the frost was an interesting touch that distracted me for a moment.

  Though the instant he finished his chant, I recaptured my focus and aimed at the goblin closest to my position. Without any further hesitation, I thrust my arms out with open palms and yelled out, "Chain Lightning!"

  As the four lightning bolts left my hands and entwined into a larger bolt, the air cackled and cracked as the room was engulfed in light. Simultaneously, the mage mirrored my move and called out, "Frost Bolt!" as the bolt of ice flew through the air at a slower pace. With its trail of frost fluttering in its wake, the flakes of ice reflected the lightning with a beautiful crystalline light display.

  The entwined lightning bolts hit their singular target and nearly instantly split off and bounced onto the other four hapless goblins that stood nearby. Writhing in pain, the goblins clutched their heads in desperation as some fell to their knees, but I didn't see any of it. I had already turned around and started my hasty retreat the second the spell left my fingertips.